GAME ON!

The team practiced on the field this week. Above is a view form the new press box.

The Sauk Centre football squad will host Benson Friday night in a much-antipcated home opener at the new athletic complex.

The state inspector was on site Thursday and school officials gave the go-ahead on the game. The hope this summer was that the project would be completed in time for the Streeters' first home game, but with Friday's game they will at least get two home game son their home turf and possibly a playoff game depending on how well they finish off the second half of the season.

The Streeters are coming off two lop-sided losses, 41-8 against Morris and 48-7 against B.O.L.D. Those two squads will likely play it out for the conference title, but Sauk has as good of a shot as any team in locking down at least third place. They defeated Yellow Medicine East 46-6 in their season opener and followed that with a 39-6 win over Montevideo.

Benson should provide a good match up for the Streeters. They are also 2-2 having lost 24-7 to Morris and 21-20 to Lac qui Parle Valley. They defeated Yellow Medicine East 48-6 and Montevideo 46-6. On paper it would seem the teams have a lot of similarities.

The Streeters may again be without senior running back Roosevelt Austin. Austin tore his ACL in the closing minutes of the win over Montevideo and was scratched for the Morris game. He did play last week, wearing a brace, after doctors told him he couldn't hurt it any worse. He carried the ball five times for 14 yards.

Sauk has relied heavily on the passing game with senior Patrick Knoblauch tossing five touchdown passes and running for four in the team's first four games. Sauk has a plethora of receivers who have been good targets for Knoblauch, including Nick Adams, Josh Buschette, Seth Otte, Dylan Kohorst, and Trent Berscheit.

Their ability to throw the ball against Benson will likely be a key factor in their success. It will also be interesting to see if team speed plays a role in Friday's game on turf. Sauk's 41-8 loss against Morris was played on turf so this is there second go-round on the artificial substance. Benson's loss to Morris was at Benson, where they have played three of their first four home games.

Another key factor will be Sauk Centre's ability to stop the Benson offense. Sauk has had trouble the past two weeks containing the high-powered offense of both Morris and B.O.L.D. Benson has outscored opponents 121-57. The Mainstreeters have been outscored 101-100.

Whatever the outcome, Friday night will be a landmark game in Sauk centre and with temperatures expected to reach the 80s during midday, the weather should cooperate as the Mainstreeters break in their new field, hopefully with a hard-fought win in from of hundreds of eager fans.

Adam Moritz od Moritz Construction works on the press box Wednesday afternoon in preparation for Friday's home opener. The siding was installed on Thursday.